Transcript Submission
Submitting Transcripts for Graduate Admission
Graduate applicants are required to submit official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended. Do not send transcripts before submitting the Cal State Apply application, as this may result in processing delays.
Transcripts from U.S. Institutions
- Submit official transcripts (in sealed envelopes) from all colleges and universities attended.
- Transcripts must have been issued within the last year. Transcripts received with print dates older than one year will not be accepted.
- Hard copy transcripts for SDSU coursework are not required.
- Electronic transcripts are preferred. Please ensure that you indicate this preference when making your request. If you are required to provide an email address to send the secure online document to SDSU, please use transcriptsforsdsu@sdsu.edu.
Transcripts from International Institutions
If you have international coursework, you are required to submit official transcripts (academic record) and official proof of degree (diploma/degree certificate), both in the original language and a certified English translation, for all post-secondary schools attended. Visit SDSU’s Graduate: Requirements by Country web page and carefully review your country of study to determine the exact academic records SDSU requires in order for you to be considered for admission. Failure to submit the required documents listed will result in the cancellation of your application.
Once Graduate Admissions has received all required documents, your application will be considered complete and will be forwarded to the program you are applying to for consideration. If your country of study is not listed or if you have questions about the documents required of you, please contact documents.global@sdsu.edu for assistance.
- Post-Secondary Transcripts: Official transcripts/grade reports are required from all post-secondary schools attended
- Diploma/Degree Certificate: For each post-secondary degree completed, submit an official copy of your diploma/degree certificate or provisional degree certificate.
English Translation: For each original-language document, submit an official certified literal English translation. The translation must be from the university or a certified translator and should contain all information shown on the original-language documents in the same format.
Submit Proof of English Proficiency (if applicable)
All graduate and post-baccalaureate applicants, regardless of citizenship or native language, who do not possess a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution or from a country whose official/primary language is not English must submit one of the following:
- TOEFL minimum score of 80 iBT/ 550 PBT.
- IELTS overall score of 6.5 or higher.
- Duolingo English Test score of 105 or higher. Please note Duolingo is not acceptable for applicants to joint doctoral programs.
- PTE minimum score of 58 or higher.
- Test scores must be from within the past two years.
Test scores must be dated within two years of the start of the application filing period. Official test scores can be sent directly from the testing agency to SDSU. Select SDSU as the recipient when sending the scores through the testing agency account.
English Proficiency Waivers
English Proficiency requirements can be waived if you earned or have a Bachelor’s degree from an international post-secondary institution where English was the principal language of instruction.
- Options to waive requirement*:
- Transcripts and grade reports must list English as the medium of instruction or
- Provide a certified letter from the institution confirming courses were taught in English. The letter mus tbe sent from the institution to SDSU.
The English proficiency requirement will be waived upon receipt of an official transcript verifying the applicant meets one of the listed conditions.
*Applicants from the following qualifying countries will be automatically exempt from the English proficiency requirement: American Samoa, Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Quebec), Falkland Islands, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Guam, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Liberia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Trinidad & Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom, Virgin Islands, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
How to Submit Your Documents
Graduate applicants may supbmite their official academic records to SDSU in one of the following options:
- Option 1: Official Documents Electronically — Submit official academic records via email. For colleges and universities that offer the option to send transcripts either electronically or by mail, electronic submission is preferred. If an email address is required when ordering an electronic transcript for SDSU, please use TranscriptsForSDSU@sdsu.edu. To be considered official, academic documents must be sent directly by the university Registrar or Controller of Examinations. Copies emailed by students will not be accepted.
- Option 2: Official Documents by Mail—Submit official documents in a sealed/unopened envelope, stamped or signed by the appropriate official from the issuing institution. Please do not send the only original academic record(s) and/or diploma(s)/degree certificate(s). All documents received become the property of SDSU and will not be returned.
If mailing international documents, we recommend using guaranteed delivery services such as Federal Express or DHL. This allows you to track and confirm delivery of your documents to Graduate Admissions.
Graduate Admissions
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-8225
- Option 3: Evaluation Report —Applicants with international coursework may submit a foreign evaluation report from one of the following:
The evaluation report must be sent electronically, directly by IERF or WES to Graduate Admissions, must include copies of the international documents used to complete the evaluation, and the report date must be issued within one year.
Deadline to Submit Transcripts
The deadline to submit transcripts will be indicated in your my.SDSU account.
How Long Will it Take to Process My Documents?
Allow at least three weeks for processing after documents have been submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office. The status of documents and test scores will be updated in your my.SDSU account after they have been evaluated. Please do not submit your documents multiple times, as this will cause delays in processing.